Reviews for Makana Charters

First off over all the tour was nice, we had good weather Makana Charters was easy to find and park. They assisted my dad as he had a walker to and from the boat. Captain Mike did his onboarding and safety brief and took us down to the boat. Mike and his crew were very friendly and social and he did well narrarating our voyage and talked about the history of the island. We pulled into a cove where large groups of spinner and bottlenose dolphins were swimming, unfortunately I did not get a chance to get many photos as other guests overutilized their time on the bow and didn't rotate out to give others a chance to get photos. By the time I got up there about 30 seconds it was time to go. He then showed us the coast and pulled into several historical spots explaining their history, he did ask us if we all got photos in these areas before moving on to snorkeling. He took us to an amazing reef just offshore where we were able to snorkel for about an hour before being called on board for lunch. We then went to a special spot to go whale watching. We saw plenty of whales and then returned to Port. Overall everything was good, I was however quite disappointed about not getting to photo the dolphins Would I recommend this tour, absolutely. Would I go again? Probably not unless it was a private charter as I am not a big people person and do not like crowds in tight quarters.

Product: Makana Charters

Can’t leave a review as tour was canceled due to weather. We appreciate the safety mind set.

Product: Makana Charters

Was a great experience! The crew was fantastic and knowledgeable and never rushed us. Got to see dolphins galore and a couple of whales. Went into some caves and learned about places and history as we cruised up the coast. Trip back was awesome going fast over the waves!

Product: Makana Charters

We had an amazing experience with Makana Charters and Tours during our trip to Kauai. This boat tour was honestly one of the highlights of our entire vacation. The scenery along the Nā Pali Coast was absolutely breathtaking—towering cliffs, sea caves, waterfalls, and the most beautiful blue water. What really made the trip special was the crew. Everyone at Makana Charters and Tours was so friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. They made us feel comfortable from the moment we got on the boat and shared great information about the coastline and the history of Kauai along the way. Seeing the coastline from the water was unforgettable, and the crew made the whole experience fun and relaxing. You can tell they truly love what they do and want everyone to have a great time. If you're visiting Kauai, I highly recommend booking a tour with Makana Charters and Tours. It’s an experience we’ll never forget!

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10/10 experience worth every penny!!

Product: Makana Charters

Product: Makana Charters

Great crew and overall experience!

Product: Makana Charters

Amazing time! Definitely my family’s favorite experience on Kaua’i!

Product: Makana Charters

This was amazing! The crew was so friendly and went out of their way to find dolphins and whales. Comfortable seats, decent lunch and great views!

Product: Makana Charters

This was such a great experience! Definitely the highlight of the trip. The views are breathtaking and the crew were all awesome. You get to view and experience so much, from dolphins, waterfalls, fish 🐟 and the beautiful NaPali coastline. Would do it again!

Product: Makana Charters

These guys absolutely rule. Cpt. Mike along with Lilliana and Tony were amazing guides on this cruise along the Na Pali Coast. We saw tons of whales and the views of the coast were incredible. I especially loved the Hawaiian blessing under the waterfall! They provide food and drinks as part of the admission and their boat handles the waters like a hot knife through butter. If we are every back in Kauai we will definitely do it again!

Product: Makana Charters

Makana is native owned and an amazing tour. With a smaller boat we did extra cool things like go into sea caves, lots of local history, & skilled captain and crew. Highly recommend!

Product: Makana Charters

Fantastic trip! Don’t leave Kauai without this boat tour of not only beautiful scenery but marine life as well.

Product: Makana Charters

Product: Makana Charters

Product: Makana Charters

I normally don’t write reviews, but after this experience I felt it was important to share it so that other travelers are aware before booking. I had booked this Na Pali Coast tour in advance and was really looking forward to it, as it was one of the main things I wanted to do during my trip to Kauai. On the way to the harbor that morning, however, I was unexpectedly stopped by the police and received a ticket for an unrelated issue. Because of this, I was delayed about 20–25 minutes. As soon as it happened, I called the tour company to explain the situation and let them know I would likely arrive right around the start time, around 8:00 or maybe 8:05 at the latest. I was told that someone from the boat would call me back shortly with an update. That call never came. As the minutes passed and the tour time approached, I kept calling the company trying to get a clear answer about whether I should still come to the harbor or if there was any possible solution. I called many times — probably around eight times. Sometimes they answered, sometimes they didn’t, and when they did respond, they simply told me the person on the boat was busy helping guests board and would call me back “in a moment.” No one ever did. At around 8:05, when I was already entering the harbor, I called again asking where I should go. That’s when they casually told me the boat had already left. After all the calls and after repeatedly telling me someone would contact me, the only answer I received was essentially that the tour was gone and maybe someone would call later to “see if anything could be done.” This was extremely frustrating and upsetting. I had been communicating with them the entire time and trying to handle the situation responsibly. Instead, I was left without clear answers, without communication, and without any effort to help. I continued trying to contact them to see if there was any possibility to reschedule for another tour that day, join a tour the next day, or receive at least a partial refund. I received no real help over the phone. Eventually I drove to their office, about 15 minutes away from the harbor, hoping to resolve the situation in person. Two employees came out and spoke to me from the stairs while I remained on the street, telling me I could not enter the office. The entire interaction felt dismissive and uncomfortable. The way they looked at me and treated me made me feel extremely unwelcome and honestly somewhat discriminated against, which was very upsetting. When I asked if there was any possible solution — another tour, a reschedule, or a refund — the answer was simply no. No options, no empathy, no attempt to help. I was told, very bluntly, that there was nothing they could do and that I had simply lost the tour. Considering this is a company that works in guest services and tourism, the lack of communication, professionalism, and basic empathy was shocking. In the end, I booked a Na Pali Coast tour with another company because it was something I really wanted to experience during my time in Kauai. The Na Pali Coast itself is absolutely incredible and I’m very glad I was able to see it — just unfortunately not with this company. My experience with this company was extremely disappointing, stressful, and honestly one of the worst customer service experiences I’ve had while traveling. For that reason, I cannot recommend booking with them.

Product: Makana Charters

Product: Makana Charters

Great experience and awesome crew and captain

Product: Makana Charters

This is the tour you need to book! The crew were so kind and fun to have this experience with. They took care of everyone and were the highlight of my trip. They taught us about the island and Hawaiian culture which added so much to the experience. Again, such a cool and lovely crew

Product: Makana Charters

Amazing time. Captain Mike was fabulous. Lots of history that I will probably not remember but I feel good hearing it none the less. Ride hime was windy and bouncy. Would recommend the morning trip not afternoon.

Product: Makana Charters